No Man Is An Island

It is a truth universally acknowledged by football fans that for every moment of anger and frustration, sometime somewhere there will be a moment of supreme satisfaction.

These moments may be weeks, years or even decades apart but if you keep the faith, good times will surely come.  On very rare occasions, we are even lucky enough to see our team win immediately after what could only be described as one of the most stressful weeks in our club's short history.

For me, this was a memorable win that felt so much like the Mariners of 'legend' (as Miron would say, "let me tell you a story...") They were playing for pride and Perez and on both counts this team, even without their number 10, proved they have what it takes to weather any other storms this season may bring (although I think we've had our fair share of disasters already, thanks).  As we sat in the drizzle we were willing them on to win and they did not let us down.

There were two wonderful goals from Griffiths and McBreen and our defence looked very impressive, with Zwaanswijk and Wilko working as well as if they'd played together for years. Bojic showed once again why he should always be in the starting XI while Matt Ryan continues to grow in confidence, repaying Arnie's faith.

And speaking of Arnie, he looked elated and relieved to get his first home win under such difficult circumstances.  Who could forget how few home wins we saw last season ? And if we can do it after the Perez nightmare, surely anything is possible.

Perhaps this season we might even throw off our paranoid, insular straitjacket and become slightly less 'unfashionable' with the pundits. Last week's massive outpouring of support for Perez and CCM in the media was very gratifying and will surely serve to build massive interest in Patricio's eventual appearance against Fury.

What was less than satisfying last week, were the numerous unpleasant comments made by other A-League fans about the Perez saga. This wasn't simply a matter of laughing at another team's misfortune but actually trying to justify what every respected commentator has now agreed was unjustifiable.

Of course, everyone's entitled to their opinion but this was a matter of justice for players rather than what did or didn't happen on the pitch. Surely all football fans would want to see players from any team given what Mariners' fan Julia Gillard might call 'a fair go'.  No-one says you have to like us - just try and look at the issue not our club colours.

Sure, I have a lot of fun all season bagging Sydney FC and the Jets but (believe it or not) it genuinely concerns me that Sydney have to fight to draw in crowds and that the Jets have money issues. These teams are all important to the A-League and what happens to them off the pitch is not just a matter for their own fans, it affects every one of us. 

As a Mariners supporter, sometimes it's difficult not to feel we are the A-League's scapegoats. And while I laughed at the giant Marinators banner that had the FFA kissing Sydney FC I'm not sure I share the underlying sentiment. Sure, sitting at Bluetongue staring at water and palm trees can make you feel like we're a little oasis of navy and yellow in a sea of hostility or lack of interest. 

But to paraphrase that great poet and Hammers fan John Donne, no A-League team is an island. What happens to one team or player - be it unfair treatment, poor crowds or financial issues - ultimately affects us all. Anything that threatens the stability and success of another team will also threaten our own.

And while we might take great pleasure in our rivalries with other teams (and having a go at another team is EXTREME enjoyment) to use a football cliché "at the end of the day" we are all inter-dependent.

You don't have to like us and we don't have to like you. But when misguided forces threaten the game we love there's nowhere to stand but together.